Boda bodas, Back to the Future, Bracelets, and some white paint.

Waking up here makes me laugh every time.

Knock knock "ALYSSA, it's 8!", Jenny or Paul knock on mine and Catherine's door and I know that I can't squeeze any more sleep in although I may try. I know it's time to rise, and a whole day of surprises lay ahead.

It's funny how Kisumu has absorbed us. If there is water we might attempt a sponge bath, if not - it's make shift coffee, some oats, and out the door we go. We find the nearest Boda boda driver (bicycle's that you sit on the back of), we ride into down for internet access, food supplies, and project materials. This morning in particular Catherine and I walked to the orphanage with a pile of cardboard on our shoulders. It has become so natural.

Yesterday was great. Joanna stopped by for a visit before boarding her plane (destination- home), Jenny stuffed loot bags for the children (we're giving them out on Saturday) and cleaned house, Paul met with the facilitators for Saturday (who are experienced in the art of conversation about AIDs/HIV), Steve Obeto painted the banners, Catherine and I picked up the large exhibition prints and painted the exhibition stands. Our Kenyan colleagues would laugh and tell you that we were "covered from head to toe" in white paint... I say that is a mild to accurate exaggeration. We settled down for the night with Paul's homemade Lentil soup and talked about "Back to the Future" and the activities we will run at the block party on Saturday. We decided on a balloon game, a soccer challenge, face painting, and crown making.

In short, things are being completed around here, and I am really proud of the team. Today Paul, Catherine, Steve Obeto, and I will be framing the prints, and Jenny is working on letters for the children. Later we'll head to the Primary school (for the last time!). There, Jenny and I will make bracelets with the children, Paul and Catherine will do audio interviews for the online slideshow we will make back in Canada.

Saturday's party is really shaping up. Activities in the morning, then lunch, then time for the facilitators to help us start conversation with the community about the stigma related to HIV/ AIDs. After that our guest of honour Wendy Muckle will give a speech, and the Piga Picha children will receive their certificates. I think my favourite part of the day will be when the children arrive and see their photos blown up, framed and mounted on the stands. I'm sure they'll rush around laughing trying to find their photos.

Okay, all for now. I'm off to the Nakumat (grocery store) to look for carpenter's glue.

Best,
Alyssa

Expect the Unexpected.

It constantly amazes me how children are free-thinkers.  How in moments they can do the unexpected, and then fall right back into line, and then do the unexpected all over again.  Last night's curation session is proof.  Jenny, Paul, Catherine and I sat on our clay floor and looked through the children's photographs as a collective.  We giggled, oohhhhed and awwwwed at the sheer creativity of the young minds we have the privilege of working with.

I would like to announce that the children at St.Clares have far exceeded expectations.  There is a show, and we are so incredibly proud of Marie Clare, Grace, Denis, Felix Ojuang, Felix Ormondi, Kevin, Mukwa, Josephat, Damacrine, Macerius, Blaise, Christopher, Lorine, Jacqueline, and Peter.

Today we get the rest of the film back from Saturday and tonight we will make our final decisions.  We will have a difficult just exhibiting 32 photos! There are so many more that are beautiful, and telling.  We look forward to coming home and sharing these photos with you.  In the mean time we are gearing up for the Block Party on Saturday.  There is a lot of work to be done this week, but I know as a team we will get it done with ease.  

All for now.

Best,

Alyssa

Photos from Catherine's Saturday lesson.

I LOVE watching Catherine teach.  Her excitement for colour, space, line, shape, and detail was just inspiring. I even found myself being challenged that day to look deeper.

Blaise, Peter and Mukwa listening intently. 

Josephat taking it all in.

Catherine teaching away.

"You look up....

...you can look down. Completely different foto."

When you look at a tree, what do you see?

We are very excited to get yesterday's film back. Our little class went really well. Better than I expected, actually.
First we talked about all the ways to photograph a tree. Trunk, leaves, flowers, and other obvious elements. Then I talked about forests, wind in trees, sun through leaves, looking up a tree, etc.

The orphans have hardly ever left the orphanage. I can't even comprehend exactly how familiar their surroundings are to them. So familiar, they probably don't even see it. So this was an exercise in the hopes of helping them expand how they see their surroundings.

I held up photos from magazines that I chose based on their effective composition qualities, to play with this idea, after exemplifying Shapes, Colours, Lines and Patterns, Space and Detail.

Holding up a photo of a man biking along a red dirt road, I asked, "what is this a picture of?"
"A bike"
"A man"
"A tree"
"Yes, these are all correct. What else?"
*silence*
"Is this a picture of colour?"
"Yes!"
"Is this a picture of space?"
"Yes!"

Soon, a few pictures in, after naming every element in the photo, they were identifying lines, colours, details, etc. themselves.

Off they then went to use a roll of film around the orphanage, just for those components. No pictures of friends, goats, or buildings allowed. Nothing specific. Just colours, shapes, space, and details.

For some, this was very challenging. They stood there with their cameras, unsure of where to go. We would ask them what they saw, and soon they were running toward lines, and colours. I pointed one child to the clothesline. We walked over together, and when I encouraged him to get closer, he started to see what it looked like from underneath. He had a new perspective. I am excited for that photo.

Others took to it right away, and could be found climbing trees looking down, or taking interesting pictures through the reflection of a car review mirror.

Yesterday was our last day of shooting, and I think we all feel it ended on a high point.

Now we are making selections for the show, and are in a high gear of planning for the community party on Saturday. We're expecting about 200 people, orphans included. In addition to an exhibit of the 11X14 photos that the orphans took, there will be games, speakers on HIV/AIDS, music, and dialogue facilitators.

Ok, lots to do. Less writing, more action.
We'll be in touch soon.